Herb Roasted Chicken

Wow... after a day like today I was

in the mood for a easy, one dish meal.

After being at the local DMV this morning

for third time, I still didn't have what I 

needed to switch our car title over to our names.

I left DMV trying to smile and not get grouchy.

I was setting at a stoplight and BANG!

The man driving the car obviously wasn't paying

attention and ran into me. It left two nice

big marks of my paint on his bumper, but 

my little car didn't have much damage.

We exchanged information and drove off.

For dinner I threw some chicken and vegetables in a dish

and made a herb sauce to pour over it.

My hubby kept saying how good it was to

the point I had to ask if he was putting

on to make me feel good. He affirmed the

truth and kept eating.

Colorful, easy and tasty.

Soft, juicy and savory. Ok, I'll stop with the cheesy adjectives.

Herb Roasted Chicken

5 chicken thighs

1 onion, chunked

1 sweet potato, chunked

3 red potatoes, chunked

1/2 cup of melted butter

4 garlic cloves, crushed

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley

Lay chicken and vegetables in a 9 x 13. Melt butter

and add spices. Pour sauce over chicken and vegetables.

Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Enjoy the easiness,

Hope

 

Apple Dumplings

Fall is here... chilly weather and clear, crisp skies.

Fall is my favorite season. Something about

the coolness after a hot summer is so refreshing.

Bring on the soup and apple recipes.

I have made apple dumplings

for quite a few years now.

I break out this recipe every fall

and have never tried any other recipe.

It's from dear Esther Shank,

I modify a few things, but her

recipe is simple and delicious.

 Ready to make a huge mess. I should have taken after photos.

Lay apples on rolled out dough and cut around with a knife.

Cut square and fold centers together.

Apple dumplings are comfort food.

Mmmmm... find me some coffee.

Apple Dumplings

Dough:

4 cups flour

4 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

1 1/3 cup Crisco

1 cup milk

Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in Crisco with a fork. Then mix with
your hands until crumbly. Add milk and press into a ball. Set aside.

7 Gala apples, halved, peeled and cored

(I've tried other kinds, but Gala is the best.)

Divide dough in half. Roll out into a 14"x18" rectangle.

Arrange half of the apples on top of the dough and

cut around them with a knife. Just enough to cover

the apple. Cut one square and see if your guessing right.

Lay with the circle side down. Sprinkle each apple half

with a rounded tsp. of brown sugar, and a little

cinnamon. Top with a small slice of butter.

Fold ends to the center and pinch edges together.

Place in two 9x13 baking dishes.

Sauce:

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 cups of water

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

4 Tbsp. butter

Combine in a saucepan. Heat to boiling. 
Remove from heat and add the butter.

Divide sauce and pour over apple dumplings.

Bake at 375 for 35 minutes.

Serve warm with ice cream.

Makes 14 apples dumplings.

Enjoy,

Hope

Caramel Apples

 Stop by the Toy Store this Saturday for

some homemade caramel apples!

 Locally grown apples from Showalter's Orchard.

Multi-tasking Wes.

Dipped in deliciousness.

Men in the kitchen- watch out!

Bagged and ready for Saturday. They will be $2.50 a piece.

Caramel Apples

2 1/4 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 cup dark corn syrup

1- 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

16 small apples

Combine first five ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over

medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and cook,

stirring constantly until mixture reaches 240 degrees on a candy

thermometer. Remove from heat, cool to 200 degrees.

Dip apples and place on greased, wax paper.

Set in freezer until hardened. Place in bags.

Store in refrigerator. Good up to 1 week.

Tips I forgot to add!

Locally grown apples work better because they are
not waxed like your store bought apples.

Wash them and dry well so the caramel will not slide off.

If you are bagging them, lightly spray the apple with pam,
this makes them slide in the bag.
Otherwise, it's tug-a-war with the caramel and your bag.
Have one person hold the bag and
the other quickly slide it in.

Blessings,

Hope

The Wedding

Hannah and Mike's wedding was gorgeous.

They are such a cute couple

and I am glad Mike is a part of our family.

I was privileged to help Hannah

with some of the wedding planning

and decorations. We merged ideas

and poof it all came together.

Here are some photos I took peaking over

the real photographers shoulder.

And they lived happily ever after.

The End,

Hope

Todd Lake 2011

We headed to Todd Lake Friday afternoon

for our annual camping trip with the Noel Farm Kids.

It had rained for the last 4 days and we

were worried we would have to cancel our trip.

But... the sun came out and we had beautiful weather.

We were chased in the camper once with a shower,

but nothing to ruin our trip.

My sister, Charity, and her husband, Wes, were

along with us this year. We had a wonderful

time together, watching the children play

and catching up on things.

The Lake.

Dad and Mom.

The children playing bubbles.

Fun in the sun.

Our campsite.

Uncle Josh showing Sawyer how dangerous fire is.

Cajun grilled shrimp.

4 packs of bacon, and every piece vanished.

Now back to work, this week will be a busy one!

Blessings,

Hope

Hannah's Bridal Shower

We had a shower for my dear,

sister-in-law, Hannah last evening.

She was showered with many useful gifts

to help start her and Mike's new home.

The ladies from her church planned the

shower and did a wonderful job.

I helped out a little with arranging the

flowers and making a relish tray.

Here are a few photos for the Aunties

and family from out of state.

The gifts.

The blushing, bride to be.

More folks and Hannah.

The wonderful food prepared by different ladies.

The flowers.

Mike, her fiance, drove here last night.

It's less than two weeks until their wedding.

Can't wait!

Hope